New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on August 8, 2025.

The good news for fantasy football managers in Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season is that there are only two teams on bye.

The bad news? Those two teams, the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, contain several quality starters, including Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, James Cook and more.

That will make for some difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions for fantasy football aficionados who will be scouring the waiver wire for quality streamers and replacements for some of their top talents.

There should be plenty of injury news that could impact this week's start/sit decisions as well. There's a chance players like George Kittle and CeeDee Lamb could return to action, which could provide certain fantasy managers a big boost.

Of course, those injuries could also weaken the upside of some popular streaming candidates who have been replacing injured players recently.

USA TODAY Sports sorts through all of that noise and outlines 16 players to start or sit in your fantasy matchups this week.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 7

Quarterbacks

  • Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. New Orleans Saints)

The Saints are one of three teams to have allowed 14 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. New Orleans has also struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, allowing the fourth-most rushing yards to the position through six weeks (174). That should position Williams to be a solid start with a high floor.

  • Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati Bengals)

The Bengals have allowed the second-most passing yards to quarterbacks this season and may be forced to play without their top pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, on a short week. As a result, Cincinnati – which sports the league's fourth-lowest pressure rate – may struggle to get heat on Rodgers. That could prove problematic, as the veteran has posted a 123.7 passer rating with 824 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception when kept clean this season.

Running backs

  • Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (at Tennessee Titans)

Stevenson is averaging a paltry 3.1 yards per carry, but he leads the Patriots in red-zone carries by a wide margin with 11. That should give him multiple scoring chances against a Titans defense that has allowed a league-high nine rushing touchdowns to running backs this season.

  • Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

The Dolphins have allowed a league-high 806 rushing yards to running backs this season. They were thrashed in back-to-back weeks by Rico Dowdle and Kimani Vidal. Expect Judkins, who is averaging 18.6 touches per game this season, to take similar advantage of a great matchup.

Wide receivers

  • Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Some may be down on Worthy after his two-catch outing against the Lions and with Rashee Rice set to return from suspension in Week 7. That said, the Raiders have allowed the third-most receptions to wide receivers this season, so there should be plenty of targets to go around and keep Worthy fantasy-relevant – provided his shoulder and ankle are not bothering him.

  • Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Detroit Lions)

Let's get bold! The Buccaneers are dealing with injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, and it isn't clear whether any will suit up on "Monday Night Football." If not, Baker Mayfield could look Johnson's direction often after the seventh-round rookie caught a 45-yard touchdown against the 49ers.

The Lions are without numerous starters in their secondary – namely D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and the suspended Brian Branch – so Johnson could end up breaking out in a favorable matchup.

Tight end

  • Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Smith has just 89 receiving yards this season, but he ranks third on the Steelers in targets with 20, behind just DK Metcalf (31) and Kenneth Gainwell (22). The Bengals have allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to tight ends this year, so Smith could find his way into the end zone for the second time this season.

Defense/special teams:

  • Los Angeles Rams (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Rams rank sixth in the NFL in pressure rate and have posted at least four sacks in three of their last five games. Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven times against the Seahawks in Week 6, so the Rams should be able to force the quarterback into several mistakes as they face off in London.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 7

Quarterbacks

  • Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Houston Texans)

Darnold is on a hot streak, averaging 278.2 passing yards and 2.2 passing touchdowns per game since Week 2. Still, it's hard to recommend trusting him against a Texans defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this year and just three total touchdowns across five games.

  • Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (at Denver Broncos)

Dart has brought a spark to the Giants' offense, and his rushing upside makes him a worthwhile streamer in favorable matchups. The Broncos don't qualify, as they have allowed just 46 rushing yards to quarterbacks through six weeks despite playing hyper-mobile quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields.

Running backs

  • Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

Etienne has been bottled up in consecutive games and will face a Rams defense that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown to a running back this season. Consider him a boom-or-bust flex with minimal touchdown upside.

  • Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (vs. New England Patriots)

Pollard has only once exceeded 67 rushing yards in a game this season. It might be hard for him to do that against a Patriots defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game this season (83.5). Tyjae Spears began to eat into Pollard's workload last week. While Titans coach Brian Callahan was fired Monday, this seems like a bad week to trust any of Tennessee's playmakers.

Wide receivers

  • Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

Jennings' outlook would be shaky enough just based on Kendrick Bourne's recent performance and the potential returns of George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall from injury. Add in that Jennings is playing through five broken ribs, per his own admission, and it's hard to recommend putting him in the lineup any time soon.

  • A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (at Minnesota Vikings)

Jalen Hurts ranks 34th among 41 quarterbacks in EPA per play against zone coverage this season, per Sumer Sports. The Vikings play zone coverage 76.5% of their snaps, 12th-most in the NFL, per Sharp Football Analysis.

That could make Week 7 a slog for the Eagles' passing offense. As such, Brown – who has averaged just 43.3 receiving yards per game the last three weeks – may just be a middling flex against a unit that has allowed the fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season.

Tight end

  • T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Hockenson has yet to exceed 49 yards in a game this season. That doesn't seem likely to change against an Eagles team that has allowed just 28 receiving yards per game to tight ends and one touchdown to the position.

Defense/special teams:

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Detroit Lions)

The Buccaneers profile as a tough matchup for the Lions, as Tampa Bay boasts one of the league's best run defenses. While that may test Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the Lions have still only turned the ball over three times this season. That gives the Buccaneers a lower ceiling than usual in what could be a high-scoring matchup.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 7

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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